Five things we learned from Sunday's Patriots-Bills game

Monday

Sep 27, 2010 at 12:01 AM

Granted, they had a new quarterback, but these Bills didn't look like the team that had started off 0-2 and was one of the worst in the NFL in the early goings. Instead, they looked like just the kind of upstart team that might play a spoiler role later on in the season. In the middle of a grueling stretch in which they play three straight division games, the Patriots took care of business — but just barely.

TIM WEISBERG

Granted, they had a new quarterback, but these Bills didn't look like the team that had started off 0-2 and was one of the worst in the NFL in the early goings. Instead, they looked like just the kind of upstart team that might play a spoiler role later on in the season. In the middle of a grueling stretch in which they play three straight division games, the Patriots took care of business — but just barely.

The running game was completely absent last Sunday against the Jets, but the Pats responded by posting their first 200-yard rushing game as a team since Dec. 14, 2008 against Oakland. They were led by BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 98 yards on 16 carries, and new acquisition Danny Woodhead carried the ball three times for 42 yards. Each scored a touchdown as well. They'll need big contributions out of both youngsters going forward with Kevin Faulk out for the season and Fred Taylor's toe injury flaring up against the Bills. The most exciting run, however, was Tom Brady's nine-yard keeper on a third-quarter drive. Brady popped right up after sliding, pumped his fist wildly and let out a yell. The play kept the drive alive, ending with a Rob Gronkowski score.

While they may still be a work in progress, the New England defense is still capable of providing some big-time moments despite their youth and inexperience. Patrick Chung and Brandon Meriweather each picked off Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, with Chung's coming right on the goal line on second-and-five from the Pats' 20. Corner Kyle Arrington also broke up an intended TD pass to Lee Evans, and linebacker Brandon Spikes stuffed RB Marshawn Lynch for a one-yard loss in the second. Linebacker Jerod Mayo led the way with nine tackles and a seven-yard sack of Fitzpatrick. The Pats stopped the Bills on half of their 10 third-down conversion attempts.

Unlike last week's attempts to constantly go to Randy Moss, this time Brady only targeted Moss three times and they hooked up twice — both times for touchdowns, including a 35-yarder. Moss also drew the outside coverage on Gronkowski's touchdown, and then offered words of wisdom to Gronkowski and fellow rookie Aaron Herandez on the sideline. Moss became just the second NFL receiver in history (behind Jerry Rice) to catch 150 career touchdown passes, and is also now second to Rice in career games with two or more TDs, with this being Moss' 36th such game. He also passed Marvin Harrison to move into fifth place all-time in receiving yards with 14,604.

Buffalo's C.J. Spiller is as dynamic a return man as there is in the NFL, and the Pats knew going in that they should avoid kicking to him at all costs. Yet he still averaged 37.8 yards on five returns, but that number was bolstered by a 95-yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski was the last line of defense, and he missed the tackle.